PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between War Hendrick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hendrick
vs
Silva

187 cm
28
265 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

199 cm
22
285 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Good chin

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Fast

ANABOLIC Nutrition 160Q and LAUNDRY 85%

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, War Hendrick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Silva!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Mauricio Rocha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hendrick throws a lazy uppercut

and Silva counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hendrick's guard now.
Silva working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Silva with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hendrick working a defensive guard here.
Silva advances to half guard.

Silva looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Silva looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Hendrick wants to control but Silva is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva seems to be looking for submissions.

Hendrick is defending against the submission attempts here by Silva.

Silva wants to work for an arm triangle but Hendrick is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hendrick is looking to control Silva's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hendrick avoid being mounted?

Silva wants to work for an arm triangle but Hendrick is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Hendrick is defending against the submission attempts here by Silva.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendrick keeping control of the position.
Hendrick keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Silva wants to work for an arm triangle but Hendrick is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hendrick is trying to control but can't.

Silva wants to work for an arm triangle but Hendrick is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Silva is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Silva is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Hendrick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva working for a submission but Hendrick is keeping him at bay.
Hendrick is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Silva swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Hendrick is now in Silva's guard. A big mistake from Silva there, giving up the dominant position!

Hendrick drops back looking for a leg! Silva is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Silva manages to kick Hendrick off! Hendrick jumps back into Silva's guard.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Hendrick from controlling successfully.
Silva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hendrick slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Silva looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hendrick would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Silva is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hendrick trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Hendrick is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Silva is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Silva dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hendrick tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Silva paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hendrick is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Silva fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hendrick avoids it really well and circles away.

Hendrick moves into range and clinches up with Silva.

Hendrick breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hendrick throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hendrick wants to clinch up but Silva keeps it at a distance.
Hendrick lands with a good body shot.

Hendrick rushes Silva and presses him up against the cage.
Silva tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Silva tries for a takedown. No joy.
War Hendrick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Silva.
Silva jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hendrick walks away with a smile on his face. Silva gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hendrick tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Silva manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nice defenses there by Silva.
Silva tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hendrick swivels and escapes.
Hendrick stuffs the takedown attempt from Silva. Silva gets slowly back to his feet.
Silva shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hendrick sprawls well. Hendrick wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Silva gets slowly back to his feet.
Hendrick throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Silva sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hendrick fails to land with a series of punches.
Hendrick throws an overhand right that lands on Silva's shoulder, as Silva tries to avoid the shot.

Silva closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hendrick is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendrick tries to kick Silva off but Silva keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hendrick gets full guard.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Hendrick is keeping the position.
Hendrick trying to control the position.
Rafael Silva has got the better of the ground game so far.
Silva passes into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hendrick is looking to improve his position.

Silva is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hendrick sees it coming and defends easily.

Silva is working for a kimura but Hendrick is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silva is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hendrick sees it coming and defends easily.

Silva is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Silva looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Silva throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Hendrick to regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Silva has gone for a leg lock! Hendrick slips out almost immediately though and dives into Silva's guard.
Hendrick showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Silva has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hendrick can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hendrick trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that War Hendrick will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Hendrick tries to clinch up but Silva circles away and keeps his distance.

Silva closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hendrick did well to prevent Silva getting side control.

Silva is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hendrick defends it well.

Silva looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Hendrick is defending against the submission attempts here by Silva.

Silva is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hendrick has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva trying to pass the guard but Hendrick defending well.
Hendrick trying to control from the bottom.

Silva is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hendrick defends it well.
Hendrick might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Silva is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Hendrick still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Hendrick has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Silva tries to buck Hendrick off but Hendrick is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hendrick is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Silva has escaped the position, nice work there.
Silva is looking for a sweep.
Hendrick moves into full mount!
Silva wants to control but Hendrick is having none of it.
Hendrick trying to control but Silva is having none of it.
Silva working to try and regain half guard.

Hendrick is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Silva to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Silva shrugs it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva wants to hold on but Hendrick pushes him away.
Silva slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Silva wants to get back to full guard.
Hendrick wants to free his trapped foot but Silva is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Hendrick is trying to work for a kimura but Silva is defending well.
Silva trying to control from the bottom.
Hendrick trying to pass the guard but Silva defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hendrick is working for a submission of some sort.
Silva is not content to let Hendrick control the position.
Silva is trying to maintain the position but Hendrick is very close to passing his half guard.

Silva looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Silva looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Silva has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Silva!
An out of breath Rafael Silva thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.